Tea wagon or the like



OcLfZl 1924.

H. CAVE TEA WAGON OR THE LIKE Fild Sept. 22, 2 Shets$hee'. 1

flaw

1 ASLQJL ATTORNEYJE "1,512,150 H. CAVE TEA WAGON OR THE LIKE Oct. 211924.

- Filed Sept. 22 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYE Patented Oct. 21, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY CAVE, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO KNOX MOTORS COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

TEA WAGO'N OR THE LIKE.

Application filed September 22, 1920. Serial No. 411,982.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY CAVE, a citizen of the United States, residingat Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in a Tea i/Vagon or the like, ofwhich the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to improvements in tea wagons or the like and,while capable of general application, the invention may advantageouslyinclude means for performing a washing operation. That is, in additionto its use as a means for transporting dishes to and from the diningroom, the invention in one of its aspects provides a receptacle toreceive soiled dishes and these dishes may be washed in such receptacle.

The invention has for an object to provide in a device of the generalnature of a tea wagon, having a member on which dishes may betransported, a tray arranged below such member and arranged for limitedsliding movement with means for normally preventing removal of the tray.

Another object of the invention is to pro videin a device of the classdescribed, a wheeled supporting frame having a single pair of uprightstandards which support between them a hollow casing which is open atits upper end and the interior of which affords a receptacle for dishesand the like, and members mounted thereon and movable into one position,in which they close said open upper end and form a table for receivingand transporting the dishes and into another position. in which theyform shelves disposed at the sides of the casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means forsupporting said movable members in their shelf-forming positions.

Further objects of the invention relate to the details of constructionand improved methods of operation, as will be more fully set forth inthe detailed description to follow.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the washingmachine;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View of the machine taken substantiallyalong the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional View in plan view illustrating the mannerof supporting the upper edge portion of the tray from one end of thecasing;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of a portion of the machine when the coversare in closed position;

Fig. 5 is a detail end View of a portion of the machine showing themanner in which the brackets are telescoped within the hollow standardsFig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the receptacle and its associatedmechanism which is provided for the removal of the heavier material forthe dishes;

Fig. 9 is an end elevational View of the receptacle and its associatedmechanism;

Fig. 10 is a detail view of the fastening mechanism employed forsupporting the receptacle from the upwardly-extending plate;

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional View taken along line 11--11 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 12 is a detail sectional View taken along line 1212'of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 13 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a slightly modifiedform of Washing mechanism.

In the provision of machines of this character particularly adapted forfamily use, it is highly desirable to provide a structure readily movedfrom place to place, and possessing in addition to a receptacle for thedishes to be washed a suitable means for receiving and supporting thefood which is to be moved from the table, thus making it unnecessary totransport the dishes to the place where they are to be washed, and inaddition remove and convey the food. Moreover, it is desirable that themachine be so constructed as to present a neat appearance and be capableof being moved from place to place after the manner of a tea wagon orsimilar structure.

It is to be understood that the machine shown and described is of such atype that after the dishes to be washed are suitably 1 pump, wherebywash water is sprayed upon the dishes and the cleansing of the disheselfected;

In the embodiment of the invention as illustrated herewith, 1 indicatesgenerally the frame structure which comprises upright hollow standards 2located at opposite ends of the washing machine, the standards beingpreferably formed of hollow pipe or tubing although they "maybeconstructed in any manner or of'any desired material, as f'rcu rnstancesmay render expedient. A suitable frame, "such as the substantiallyrectangular frame 3 shown, is secured to the upright standards 2,intermcdiate'their ends, being so arranged relative 'to the standards asto occupy a substantially horizontal position. Therect'angular frameabove referred to also be advantageously formed of hollow pipe ortubingai ter the mannerof the upright standards. caster a is s'wiv llyconnected 'to thelo-wer end of each of the hollow standards, "to assistin supporting the frame ins'uch a manner as to permit it being readilymoved vfrom place'to place. A U- shaped frame 5 is secured to thelongitudinally-extending portions'ol the frame 3 adjacentthe transversecenter .of the frame each of the arms of'thefU-sha-ped [memberbeing-"providedwith curved portions 6 pap tially surrounding the longitudin ally-extending'parts ofthe frame 3"andbe1ng secured thereto n'a'nysuitable for desired manner.

' The 'u' wardl' -exte'ndin arms of the U- shaped member 5 are eachprovided with vertical slots 7, which are located in substantialalignment with each other, anda shaft 8 extending transversely oi theframe is; positioned "within'theslot 7 for vertical movement therein.Depending brackets 9 are secured to opposite ends of the U shapedframe'member 5, "and each of these brackets is provided with acaster-'10 swivelly mounted therein and adapted to assist the casters 4iinfnormally' providing a support forthcframe. The {shaft 8projectsbeyond the parallel arms of the U-shaped frame member' '5, and wheels 12are rotatably mounted upon opposite ends of the shaft. The wheels 12'and casters 4 and 10 are preferably provided with rubber tires13 inorder to permit the machine to be readily transported from place toplace upon polished floors without marring the same and also to pre ventany possible sliding of the machine upon the floor or surface over whichis being transported. Rotatably mounted'upon each end of the shaft 8,betweenthe outer surface of theframe membere and wheels 12 is amember-14. These members 14: are in allrespects of similarconstructionand each comprises a lever portion 15 extending oppositedirectionsfrom the shaft beyond the periphery of the wheeland providedat its opposite extremities with offset footcarriedbythe frame. A coilspring 22 may be secured at one end to the axle 8 and at its oppositeend to a fixed part of the frame so asto normally tend to urge thedepressions 19 to enter into engagement with the proj ections 21.It'willb'eseen upon reference to Figs 1' and 20f thedrawings, thatbymeans of the mechanism just described the lever 15 carried uponea'chsi'de of the shaft may be actuated by'moving the footpieces 16'or17 to rotate'the'cam 18, thus bringing the surface depression 19 intoengagement with the roller 21"andcausing the shaft 8 to be forceddownwardly in the slota sufficient distance to bring" the wheels 12 intoengagement with the floor upon whichthe'machine is stand? ingandthereafter raising the casters "out of engagement with the floor andelevating the machine a suliicientdistance so'that when the wheels 12.are thus forced to their lowermost position the machine may rock' abouttheshal't 8,'which. m'akesit particularly con ve'nient for the machineto negotiate raised thresholds, edges of rugs. and the like. i

A; pair of angle-bars 24 are supported by the frame 3 adjacent theopposite ends tlie1-eof,'ancl a tray 25 of substantially rectangularform is adapted to "rest'uponthe angle-bars 2e and to slide thereontransversely ofthe frame. Brackets 26 and 27 ar secured to opposite endsof the tray, at tlie corners thereof, and each of these brackets isprovided with an offset lug 28 end of the tray, the handles beingsupported by the two brackets 26 and the two brackets 27, respect vely.Each handle carries a pair of projecting lugs 30, the

32, such as the usual form of coil spring (not shown) which may bereadily positioned within the handle 29 and have opposite ends securedto the handle 29 and trunnion 28, respectively.

By reason of this construction, the tray may be slid. transversely ofthe machine for a limited distance, to facilitate loading and unloadingbut is normally prevented from being completely removed from itssupporting frame by the stops 3O en aging the lugs 32. When, however, itis desired to entirely remove the tray from its support-- ing frame, theoperator may grasp the handles 29, which extend transversely of the trayat opposite ends thereof, and by slightly rotating the handles bring thestops 30 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of thedrawings, whereupon the tray may be entirely removed from the supportingframe and be carried by the operator to such a place as it maybedesired.

A substantially cylindrical casing member 35 is secured at its oppositeends to the upper ends of the upright standards 2, he upper end portionof said standards being flattened, as indicated at 36, to betterfacilitate. their attachment to the end portions of the casing. Theflattened portions 36 of the standards may be secured to the casing inany suitable or desired manner, as by means of bolts or rivets 3?, asindicated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. An opening 38 is formed in theupper end of each standard adjacent the flattened portion 36 tocommunicate with the hollow interior of each standard. A slidablebracket e0 provided at one end with an enlarged head ll and at itsopposite end with the angular portion i2 is adapted to project withinthe opening 38 and to normally telescope within the standard 2, wherebythe angular portion 42 will occupy the position illustrated in Figs. 5and 6 of the drawings. These telescoping brackets are adapted to bepartially withdrawn from the hollow standards, for a purpose which willbe hereinafter more fully described.

An elongated basket 4st, preferably cylindrical and of foraminousmaterial, such as wire mesh, is adapted to be positioned within thecasing and supported entirely from one end thereof, thus leaving theopposite end of the basket, as well as the side portions thereof, spaceda substantial distance from the opposite end and the sides of thecasing. Any suitable means may be employed for thus supporting thebasket from the casing, and in the present instance this supportingmeans comprises a plate 45 firmly secured to the interior of the casingand provided with offset portions 46 adjacent its ends. The basket as ispreferably provided with a head 47 of substantially rigid materialsurrounding the upper edge thereof, and a plate 48 may be suitablysecured to the basket adjacent the head a? and provided with lugs as forengaging the offset ends 46 of the plate to support the basket from thecasing. A spacing plate 50 may be secured to the interior of the casingbelow the plate 45 and engage the end portion of the basket in order tomaintain the same in a substantially horizontal position. The casing isprovided with an opening adapted to be normally closed by means of covermembers 51 and 52 hingedly supported by the end portions of the casingin a manner to be later described in detail. The cover member 51 has adepressed portion 53 formed therein which serves as a means for liftingthe cover member, and a similar depressed portion 5a is formed in thecover member 52 for a similar purpose. The inner end of the cover member51 is provided with a groove 55 formed by bending the metal, of whichthe cover member is made, back upon itself, and the flange 56 formed inthe cover member 52 fits into the groove 55 when the cover members arein closed position to prevent the est-ape of the spray from the casing.A head 5'? extends around the inner surface of the cover member 51adjacent the edge of the casing and serves the double purpose ofinter-fitting with the upper edge of the casing to prevent the escape ofspray when the cover member is closed. At its end, the bead 57 isextended to form a pocket which serves as a means for catching anywaterwhich may run down upon the cover member when the cover is movedupwardly into a substantially vertical position and thus prevent thiswater from running down the outside of the casing or dropping upon thefloor of the room. A similar beading 58, also bent to form a similarpocket, is torn'icd in like manner upon the inner surface of the covermen'iber 52 where it performs like functions. Similar pockets areprovided adjacent the free end of h cover, which collect such water asmay run down upon the cover when it is moved downwardly into asubstantially vertical position. All these pockets drain back into tank35 when the covers are moved back into closed position. Br:- ets (it)are suitably-sorurod to tap outer snriaro of the casing at opposite endsnear the upper cd 'e thereof and a 1nd outwardly and up- .vardl'therein-om shown in l and lot the drawii'igs, the upperoutwardlyextending end of these ln'achets-i being bent about a heavywire which extends arund the side and end edges of the cover members 51and 52 in order to form hinges for the cover members, thus enabling themto perfectly close the top of the casing. The wire 62 also serves tostiffen the cover members and prevent them from bending when in openposition. These stiffening wires are secured to the side and one endportion of each cover member in any suitable n'ianncr as by means ofclips 65, and rubber or other cushioning material (it?surrounds-thewires intermediate the clips to prevent the cover memberswhich project beyond the outer edges of the casingfrom marring anyportion of the woodwork of the room with which they may come intocontact. Each bracket 60 thus serves e hinge for one of the covermembers, and the wire 62 carried by the corresponding cover member isenclosed within the bent portion of the bracl' et and rotates therein.

These cover members may each be held in horizontal position when open asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, by means of thetelescoping brackets ll) which, as previously described, are normallytelescoped within the upright standards 2. i Vhen the cover member 51,,for example, is open, the bracket 40 is drawn upwardly from out of theupright standard in which it is normall housed into the osition shown 3.i in dotted lines 111 Fig. 1 of the drawings, whereupon the head 41carried by the bracket abuts against the inner surface of the hollowstandard and the loop-shaped portion 42 is then in position to orig thedepression 53 formed in the cover and thus hold the same insubstantially ho zontal position, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. lVhen the cover members are thus held in horizontal position, a pluralityof 1 may be set upon their upper surface. it serves as a table forsupporting the same while they are being placed in position on the tray.The hinge arrangement for covers 51 and 52 is such that each may'assumea third position, in'which it extends downwardly and substantiallyvertically.

A suitable receptacle is provided to which is pivotally connected anupright plate 72 having a flange 73 extending around three sidesthereof, the plate '72 being. provided with suitable fastening means T lby which it may be detachably secured to the upper edge of the basket,as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. A suitable brush 75 is securedto the flange 73 at the upper edge of the plate 72 and projects beyondthe edge of the flange for use in removing the heavier portion of thematerial upon the plates before the plates are positioned in the basketas illustrated in Fig. 9. A spout 76 having curved slots formed in theside it edges thereof is adapted to be placed in position relative tothe plate 72 and supported by, having the slots engage with projectingpins 7 8 carried by the side flanges 73 of the plate 72 so as to form aspout for directing the material removed by the brushe'o into thereceptacle '70. This spout is capable of being readily removed from theplate 72 for the purpose of cleaning the same by lifting it up slightlyto disengage the pins 78 from the slots 7'7. The pivotal connection 79by which the plate 72 is connected with the receptacle 70 may be of sucha nature as to permit the ready separation of the plate from thereceptacle in order that material in the receptacle may beremovedtherefrom and the plate and receptacle-cleaned when necessary.plurality of slats Si-are suit-- ably mounted within the basket andserve as supports for the dishes A, which are preferably placed insubstantially the position as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings before thewashing operation is commenced.

The means for conducting the wash water into thecasing and spraying thesameover the dishes is located or supported by the casing at theopposite end thereof from that to which the tray is attached, andcomprises an angular pipe 84 provided with small openlugs 85 formedtherein and extending subs stantially throughout its length which pipeis supported by a. spider 86 carrying rollers 87 adapted to run upon atrack 88 carried upon the inner surface of the casing. A continuation 89of the pipe St projects at right angles to the plane of the spider andis rotatably mounted in a bearing 90 carried by the wall of the casing.This continuation 89 of the main spray pipe 8d has an opening whichcommunicates with a connection 92 fixedly secured to the casing andsuitable means may be employed to attach the portion of the pipe 89 tothe connection 92 in such a manner as to permit free rotation of thepipe 84 without any leakage occurring at the point where the portion 89joins the connection 92. A cup shaped flange 94 may be secured to theouter surface of'the casing sin-rounding the connection 92 to catch anywater which may leak from the connection. An opening 96 is formed in theend portion of the casing through which a pipe may be inserted to drawwater from the lower portion of the casing, and this water thus drawnfrom the lower portion of the casing may be forced by means of asuitable pump intothe pipe 84 by means of a hose attached to theconnection 92.

in the form of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1 the machine may bewheeled into the dining-room when the .dishesare' to be removed from thetable, and the factthat the machine is mounted upon casters permits itto be turned in any direction or to be located in any position desiredrelative then be placed upon the cover members '51 and 52, which arepreferably maintained in horizontal open position as illustrated in Fig.1 whereby they serve snelves tor supporting the dishes and from whicheach dish may be ta en separately and the heavier contents removed bybringing the same in contact with the brush 75,115 shown in Fig. 9. andthe dishes then placed in position in the basket. In placing the dishesin the basket the small r articles, such as cups may be placed bottomupward in the lower portion of the basket and the dishes in sorted,between the supporting; strips 81 so that they occupy the position shownin Fig. lVl-ien the dishes to be washed have been entirely removed fromthe table and placed in position within the basket. the cover membersmay be closed, whereupon the brackets 40 can be telescoped within thestandards 2 and the machine may then be wheeled to the kitchen or anyother place where the dishes are to be wash-ed. and the food containedin the tray 25 may be removed prior to the washing of the dishes. Inmoving the machine from one room to the other, ditficulty might beexperienced in crossing raised thresholds and carpets, if the casterswere wholly relied upon as means for supporting the same, but by depressing the foot-pieces 17 the casters are thereby raised out ofcontact with the floor and the machine, being then capable of rockingabout shaft 8, can be readily pushed over rugs or thresholds withoutdanger of the casters engaging-the same and obstructing the movement ofthe machine.

In this form of the invention the washing operation is performed byconnecting a source of water supply with the connection 92, wherebywater is delivered under pressure to the spray-pipe, and the openings 85in the spri-ty-pipe all extending in one di rection relative to its axisof rotation. cause the pipe to rotate as the water is forced therefromthrough the openings.

In the modified form of the invention shown in Fig. 13, the casing is inall respects similar to the casing previously described, and issupported by a pair of upright standards 2 which are similar in allrespects to the standards previously described and have flattened endportions 36 attached to the casing in the same manner as in the formshown in Fig. 1. These standards 2 are formed of hollow pipe or tubing,as in the form shown in Fig. 1, and telescoping brackets 40 are adaptedto be housed therein for the purpose of supporting the cover members ina manner previously described. The cover members employed in this formof the invent-ion are precisely similar to all those reviouslydescribed, but have been omittec from Fig. 13 of the drawings in orderto more clearly show the remaining mechanism. In this term oi' ti oii'ivcntion, the basket. M; is made in a similar u'ianner to the basketpreviously described and differs therefrom only that it may be supportedfrom both enc s The means for supporting comprises plates 98 secured tothe inner surface ot the casing at opposite ends u c n 1 ,.,1 -p h t 1r1 Ulelobl, unt. eacn p a e as its on. per

spaced inwardly from the casing as 'ndicated at 99. Plates 100 aresecured to opposite ends of the tray. and each of hose plates isprovided with brackets 101 adapted to extend over and engage theinwardly-offset portions 99 the plates 98 to support the basket in aposition within the receptacle in such a manner as to permit the same tobe readily removed. Aligned bearings 102 and 10-3 are formed in theopposite ends of the casing to rotatably support a .l-shaped spray-pipe1.04. Suitable stuffing-boxes 105 and 106 may be provided to preventwater leaking around the bearings within which the U-shaped spray-pipeis rotatably 1. ounted. A crank 107 is provided which has a por ionconstructed to fit upon one end. of the U-shaped spray-pipe, tor thepurpose of turning the pipe in its bearings, and the crank is alsoprovided with a handle 108, as is usual in devices of this character.That portion or" the U-shaped spray-pipe which is mounted in the bearing103 is in communication with an opening termed in a connection 109 whichis fixedly secured to the casing whereby. when a hose is attached to theconnection 1.09, water may be pumped into the spray-pipe and. deliveredtherefrom through a plurality of minute openings 110 formed in the innerface of said U-shaped spraypipe. An opening 112 communicates with theinterior of the casino at the lower portion thereof. through which apipe may be inserted to draw water from the casing and return the sametothe spray-pipe by means oi a suit-able pump mechanism. A. cup-shapedmember 1! 14 is secured to the outer surface of the casing surroundingthe connection 109 to catch any water which may escape around theconnect-ion and prevent it from dropping to the floor of the room.

In the operation of the construction dcscribcn above the crank 10'? isplaced in position to engage the U-shaped spray-pipe and swung; back andforth by means of the handle 108. thus causing the spray-pipe 104- to beoscillated in its bearings backward and forward to spray water upon thedishes contained in the basket 41:4. In this form, as in that previouslydescribed. a separate pumpin r unit may be employed in which ahose isconnected with the pump to draw water from a pipe or other supply, and ahose con nects the pump outlet with the connection ii 2 and 199 tosupply Water to the supply pipe. When a sufficient amount of water hasbeen pumped in the casing through the spray- .pipe, the hose connectionwhich extends from the pump inlet to the water supply is disconnectedfrom the source of water supply and inserted in the opening 112, wherebywater is drawn from the opening 112 and returned to the casing throughthe spray-pipe 104 for a suflicient time to en tirely clean the dishescontained in t e tray. hen the dishes have been completely \i'ashed orwhen it becomes desirable to employ fresh water in the washingoperation, the pump may be employed to remove the water from, the casingthrough the opening fresh water may then be supp-lied to the spray-pipe104 in the manner previously described. As the spray-pipeis oscillatedby the crank 107, it traverses an arc of nearly 360 and thus sprayswater upon the dishes contained in the tray from an infinite number ofdifferent angles, thus insuring that the entire surface of each dishwill be subjected to the water spray and thus be entirely cleaned. Theefficiency of the water spray is also enhanced by reason of the factthat since openings are formed both in the main portion of the U-shapedspray-pipe and in the parallel end portions thereof the spray isdelivered to the tray from three different sides thereof as Well as frompractically every angle during the oscillation of the spray-pipe.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a supporting frame comprising a pairof upright standards, a casing carried by said standards, supportingmembers carried by the frame below said casing, a tray slidably mountedupon said supporting members, cooperating means carried by the tray andstandards, respectively, for preventing the removal of the tray fromsaid supporting members, and means for disengaging said cooperatingmeans comprising a pivoted member manually rotatable.

2. In combination, a wheeled supporting frame, an elongated casingcarried by said frame and provided with an opening formed in the topthereof, a rail surrounding the opening formed in the top of said casing and having cushioning material ap plied thereto, and cover membershingedly supported by said rail adjacent the ends of said casing.

3. In combination, a wheeled supporting frame, a casing carried by saidframe and provided with an opening formed in the top thereof, covermembers hingedly supported by the casing at the opposite ends thereof,and extensible brackets carried within the frame and extensibletherefrom for support- I ing said cover members in substantiallyhorizontal position when the same are swung from their closed positionover the opening in the casing.

4. In combination, a wheeled supporting frame, a casing carried by saidframe and provided with an opening formed in the top thereof, andcovermembers hingedly supported by the casing at the opposite endsthereof and movable into and adapted to be supported in a verticalposition and also in tWo positions 90 therefrom.

5. In combination, a wheeled supporting frame having hollow standardspositioned at opposite ends thereof, a casing carried by said standardsand provided with an opening formed in the top thereof, cover mem bershingedly supported from the ends of said casing for closing the openingin the top, and brackets normally telescoping within said hollowstandards and Withdrawable therefrom to support said cover members insubstantially horizontal position when the cover members are swung fromtheir closed positionover the opening in said casing.

HENRY cave.

